Manchester United returns to Old Trafford on Tuesday evening as we host fourth pace Leicester City. We will be hoping another win will delay champions-elect Manchester City’s coronation. The Red Devils came back to win 3-1 against Aston Villa on Sunday. Whilst the Foxes hopes of a top-four place took a dent with a crushing 4-2 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United.
United was forced once again to come from a goal down to secure all three points at Aston Villa. Bertrand Traore gave the home side the lead, which could have handed the Premier League title to our rivals. We were not about to let go of our magnificent away record this season that easily. Bruno Fernandes restored parity, which was his 25th Premier League goal in 48 games. Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani completed the turnaround.
The Red Devils are currently ten points behind City with four games of the season left to play. Defeat against Leicester would see City take the title back out of the hands of Liverpool.
If United achieve victory over Leicester City, it would be our 15th league game without a loss. The Reds can be assured of a top-four place in the league. We have won the last six of our seven league games. This week sees a busy run of fixtures as we face Liverpool 48 hours after this game.
Opposition Preview
Leicester City arrive at Old Trafford off the back of a crushing 4-2 defeat to Newcastle United. The Magpies raced into a four-goal lead. The Foxes pulled two goals back. However, they went down to their third defeat in six games as their hopes of a top-four finish took a dent.
The destiny of the top-four is still in the hands of the Foxes. Five points separate them from fifth place. They come to Old Trafford having only lost once in the last twelve games. In the reverse fixture back on Boxing Day, an entertaining 2-2 draw was played out. Leicester have not won at the Theatre of Dreams since being promoted back to the Premier League in 2014, losing five and drawing one.
Manchester United vs Leicester City Match Details
Teams: Manchester United vs Leicester City
Date: May 11th, 2020 (Tuesday)
KO Time: 18:00 BST
Competition: Premier League
Stadium: Old Trafford
Referee: Craig Pawson
Managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Brendan Rodgers
Manchester United Team News
For United, it is unlikely that captain Harry Maguire will feature against his former club. He suffered a suspected ankle injury against Aston Villa. He has joined Daniel James, Anthony Martial, and Phil Jones in the treatment room. Eric Bailly is likely to fill the role left behind by Maguire in the defence. Alex Telles, Nemanja Matic, and maybe even Donny van de Beek could see some game time as Ole carefully manages his squad this week.
Manchester United vs Leicester City Pre-Match Press Conference
The pre-match press conference saw Ole was asked how many changes he will make given the run of fixtures. He said, “We’ll sit down with the sports scientists today, we can have a theoretical team now, but we’ll have to see how they react when they come in tomorrow, when they come in Tuesday morning and pick a team Tuesday afternoon.”
Ole was asked about Mason Greenwood becoming the top-scoring teenager for United. He said, “I can say that Mason is learning all the time, he’s learning on the job which is not easy, it’s difficult and he’s had to bear a lot of responsibility. I’m delighted that he’s got back to his goalscoring best and is learning more and more all the other bits as well.”
Leicester City Team News
For our opponents, James Justin, Wes Morgan, Harvey Barnes and Jonny Evans are all absent through injury. Brendan Rodgers has said he needs to manage the game time of James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira who have just returned from their respective injuries. Timothy Castagne could feature at right-back if Pereira misses out. Ayoze Perez could potentially play in behind the front two strikers of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: WWWWDW
Manchester United form (all competitions): WWDWLW
Leicester City Premier League form: LLWWDL
Leicester City form (all competitions): LWWWDL
Interesting Facts
- Manchester United are unbeaten in 12 Premier League meetings since losing 5-3 at the King Power Stadium in September 2014. (source: BBC Sport).
- Manchester United are aiming to win five Premier League home games in a row for the first time since March 2018. (source: BBC Sport).
- The Red Devils have won all three of their league games on a Tuesday this season, scoring 11 goals without reply. (source: BBC Sport).
- Marcus Rashford has scored five Premier League goals against Leicester. (source: BBC Sport).
Manchester United vs Leicester City Predicted Lineup
Henderson; Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Bailly, Telles; Matic, McTominay, Van de Beek; Mata; Greenwood, and Cavani.
Prediction
Ole will have to manage his squad carefully with two games within 48 hours of each other. There will be plenty of game time for those players who have not played recently. There is enough depth in our squad that should see us over the line against Leicester City.
Predicted Score
Manchester United 1-0 Leicester City
